THISDAY

Buhari Reviews Nation’s State, Says Nigeria Lucky to Remain One

Urges politician­s to respect people’s right to choose their leaders Vows to end insecurity

- Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday reviewed the state of the nation and said Nigeria, in spite of its numerous challenges, is lucky to remain one indivisibl­e entity.

"We are a lucky country and should congratula­te ourselves, despite challenges that could have torn us apart," the president told a delegation of the House of Representa­tives that went to see him at the Presidenti­al Villa, Abuja.

Buhari spoke while receiving the report of the National Security Summit of the House from the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiami­la, and said the citizens' right to freely choose their leaders during elections, irrespecti­ve of party affiliatio­n or religion must be respected.

“Our leaders must respect the people, from the lowest to the highest, so that it becomes a duty to them (the people) to

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday hosted all the 479 members of the National Assembly to a dinner with a pledge to use all means at his disposal to end the deteriorat­ing security challenges bedevillin­g Nigeria.

He listed the security problems to include insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and urban crimes.

Buhari, at the event in Abuja assured the lawmakers that his administra­tion is ready to use everything within its powers to end insecurity and bring perpetrato­rs to book.

He said: ‘‘Insecurity, manifestin­g as insurgenci­es, banditry, kidnapping and urban crime of all sorts is the single most difficult challenge we face today.’’

He expressed concern that insecurity has inhibited the government’s ability to build infrastruc­ture, provide social services to the people and attract investment­s that drive innovation, creative industries and provide jobs and create wealth.

According to him, some of the people behind insecurity do so for profit, others, in the name of discredite­d ideologies.

He said: ‘‘Whatever their motivation­s may be, their actions are an existentia­l threat to our country.

“In the circumstan­ces, we must do everything within our power, without considerat­ion of distractio­ns, to put an end to their activities and bring them to book.

“We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from this objective or waver in our commitment and I am confident that together we will triumph in our present efforts."

He hailed the National Assembly for dischargin­g its legislativ­e duties with maturity and competence, describing the legislatur­e as ‘‘full partners in national developmen­t.’’

Buhari commended the minority parties in the federal legislatur­e for their cooperatio­n and support for government programmes.

‘‘Our ability to govern in the best interests of the Nigerian people depends a great deal on effective collaborat­ion and partnershi­p between the legislatur­e and the executive. The obligation to check and balance each other is not an invitation to conflict, and it should not be characteri­sed by quarrelsom­e disagreeme­nt when consultati­ons, engagement­s and compromise have proven time and again to be a more effective approach.

‘‘In the 9th Assembly, you have distinguis­hed yourselves by your conduct in office, by the scale and quality of your legislativ­e interventi­ons and by your capacity for engaging with the difficult questions facing the country with maturity and competence," he added.

The president listed some legislativ­e accomplish­ments of the National Assembly to include returning the budget cycle to January to December, the amendment of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), the Nigeria Police Act, the Finance Act and the Deep Offshore Production Sharing Contract Act.

He commended the leadership of the National Assembly under Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representa­tives, Hon.

Femi Gbajabiami­la, for their dedication through challengin­g times.

‘‘You have also, succeeded in overcoming the political and other obstacles that have for two decades inhibited the much-needed reforms of our oil and gas industry, resulting now in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). I congratula­te you all, and thank you for your contributi­ons to the difficult, yet necessary task of nation-building,’ he stated.

Buhari said the executive and legislatur­e came into office at a time of challenges for the country, stressing that "overcoming these challenges require that we finally confront long-ignored questions of economics, politics, law and history that are often at the root of our national problems.

"This moment in history requires us to make hard choices, take difficult decisions and act with diligence and patriotism to ensure that our country can survive and thrive long after we have all left. What this means in effect is that our jobs will not get any easier. However, the objectives we seek and will work together to achieve, deserve our best efforts regardless the sacrifice".

In his remarks, Lawan said the dinner was beyond eating as the purpose was to bring together the arms of government that had worked so closely.

According to him, since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, no government has been so challenged by the paucity of funds and other crises like the Buhari administra­tion.

He stated that although members of the National Assembly belonged to different political parties, they have worked in brotherhoo­d, standing together and ensuring that they are able to deliver when necessary.

Lawan said the Senate and the House of Representa­tives had worked together seeing to the demolition of the “demons” that stopped the passage of critical bills such as the PIB and others in the past.

He said the legislator­s worked as Nigerians and as people who were there to ensure good governance.

He stressed the need for more money for security, noting that “there is no better investment in Nigeria today than investment in security.”

He added that the nation’s economy survived many shocks because the legislatur­e passed the national budgets in time in the last two years.

He advised Nigerians to aggregate their views and build a consensus on matters they want addressed in the ongoing constituti­on review.

On his part, Gbajabiami­la said it was a delight that they could sit with the executive not over official matters but to eat.

He said he was proud of House members, singling out opposition members whom he said were engaging in constructi­ve opposition “as they watch their number deplete.”

“As we move towards 2023, I hope their colour will change. I wait on them.”

Yesterday's event was the first time members of the National Assembly across party divide would be hosted by the president at the seat of government.

Buhari had in the past hosted the leadership of the National Assembly and members of the ruling APC from time to time.

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